Today I explored the parks and green spaces of central London. Tech wise, I was using a Zoom H6 to take stereo recordings. My intentions today were to capture the sounds of each space, as true as possible. I did not position myself in any way to try and exasperate the urban sounds. As mentioned in previous blog posts, I wish to capture a ‘sonic image’ of each green space, to then be presented in its raw form before being manipulated.

Saint Leanord’s Church Yard.

This space was relatively busy, with small groups of people dotted around, the recording is sprinkled with faint, distant chatter. There are a few large trees in the space, I can faintly hear their leaves rustle in the wind. The hum of the city is quite strong, with the sound of traffic and construction being the most noticeable elements in the recording.

Keynote sounds – City hum, traffic, music from cars, distant conversation, trees rustling.

Sound Signals – Train screech (two points), at times the traffic becomes more than keynote.

Hi-fi/Lo-fi – Lo-fi

Finsbury Square.

This space was quite quiet in terms of people, there was one small group to my right. The space is a square, centred by large buildings surrounding each of its sides. The sound of an electric box provides a humming drone through the whole recording. The main feature of this recording is the pigeons. I left the recorder on the ground and allowed the pigeons to surround it. The result is an immersive stereo image of the sounds of pigeons close up. 

Keynote sounds – Electric Box purring, some traffic noise throughout, distant conversation

Sound Signals- Close up of pigeons. 

Hi-fi/Lo-fi – Lo-fi

Barbican Estate

I recorded the sounds of the large private courtyard in the Barbican. This was the most peaceful recording of the day I feel. The hum of the city is present, though it seems to blend with the washing of the trees in the wind. From the right, birdsong can be heard throughout the recording. I think its worth noting that this is the only recording of a space that is not accessible to the public. It is also designed as a space that actively attempts to mitigate the city noise, and this is apparent in the recordings.

Keynote sounds – Trees washing in the wind, city hum seems to be in the same register.

Sound Signals – Birdsong to the right

Hi-fi/Lo-fi – Hi-fi

Postman’s Park

This park was a pretty little space, though it seemed to be forgotten about by the city of London gardeners. The space offered little escape from traffic noise, with alarms and big impacts being heard throughout. The heavy, overgrown greenery in the space provides a meditative swaying in the wind. I stayed her for around twenty minutes, returning a few hours later in attempts to capture a recording with less chatter from people across the way, however at no point could I achieve this.

Keynote sounds – Trees washing in the wind, quite distant chatter, traffic rumble, sirens

Sound Signals – Tires screeching and alarms ringing.

Lo-fi/Hi-fi – Hi-fi

Sterry Street Courtyard

In this space, which is located right near London Bridge. The noise of the city was incredibly overpowering. There was a constant ring and flutter of a helicopter overhead, coupled with the sound of an alarm somewhere in the vicinity.